University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Ready for NCAA Championships
3/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
| 2016 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships | |
| Date | Wednesday, March 15-Saturday, March 19 |
| Time | Prelims: 9 a.m. CT | Diving Prelims: 11:30 a.m. CT | Finals: 5 p.m. CT |
| Location | Atlanta, Ga. | McAuley Aquatic Center |
| Tickets | All-Session Pass |
| Championships Central | Georgia Tech Website |
| Results | Swimming | Diving |
| Broadcast | Atlanta Swimming (Prelims, Wednesday/Thursday finals) | ESPN3 (Friday/Saturday finals) |
| Meet Info | Psych Sheet |
| Social Media | @GopherSwimDive | Facebook | Instagram |
Minnesota will look for its 16th-straight top-15 finish this week at the 2016 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. Competition will be held this Wednesday, March 15 through Saturday, March 19 at Georgia Tech's McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Ga.
The Gopher women are coming off a third-place finish the 2016 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships after totaling 927.50 team points.
2015 Championships Flashback
Minnesota finished 12th at last year's NCAA Championships, highlighted by two Golden Gopher National Champions.
Yu Zhou was named the 2016 NCAA Diver of the Year after becoming the only diver to place in the top-five in each diving event, led by a gold medal in the 3-meter diving event. Zhou was joined by three teammates, tied for the most in the nation with Virginia Tech.
Kierra Smith became the NCAA's third-fastest 200-yard breast performer of all-time with a 2:04.56 for the national title. Smith is taking the collegiate season off to focus on qualifying for the Olympics for Canada. She's set to return for her senior year this fall. Her titled tallied Minnesota's third women's breaststroke NCAA Champion in the past five years.
Then freshman, Brooke Zeiger, also earned All-American status after finishing sixth in the 400 IM.
NCAA Roster Breakdown
• Samantha Harding: Distance freestyle swimmer and senior Harding will represent the Gophers in the 500 and 1650 free events. Harding holds two All-American Honorable Mention Honors.
• Rachel Munson: Freshman Munson led the Gophers' breaststroke events this season and notched eighth-place 100 breast (1:00.40) and ninth-place mark in the 200 breast (2:11.20)-both lifetime bests.
• Danielle Nack: The sophomore notched two medals at the B1G Championships with a silver in the 200 fly and a bronze in the 100 fly. Nack also posted the Gophers' season-best time in the 50 free with a 22.50.
• Jessica Ramberg: Senior Ramberg will compete at her third-straight and final NCAA Championships. She's coming off three top-eight finishes at the conference meet.
• Breanne Siwicki: Siwicki returns to the NCAA Championships after a season of incredible improvement. The junior finished fourth in the 400 IM and 11th in the 1650 free at B1Gs.
• Lexi Tenenbaum: Tenenbaum qualified for her second NCAA Championships after placing in the top-seven of each event at Zones. The junior also grabbed a bronze medal on 3-meter and fourth-place finish on platform at B1Gs.
• Lauren Votava: The seven-time All-American Votava has been a key factor to Minnesota's relays since her freshman year. Votava will once again play a big part for the Gophers' relays, as well as race the 100 free and 200 free.
• Brooke Zeiger: Last year, Zeiger notched All-American honors and a B1G title in the 400 IM. The sophomore will look to make an impact at this year-end meet competing in the 400 IM, 500 free and 1650 free.
• Yu Zhou: 2015 NCAA, B1G Diver of the Year returns for her second season at Minnesota. Zhou is coming off her second-straight Big Ten Diver of the Championships selection after sweeping the women's diving competition. Zhou also won gold at the 2016 NCAA Zone D Diving Championships and will be a contender for each diving title this week.
Gophers Zoe Avestruz, Rae Bullinger, Kaia Grobe and Abigail Raatz round out the Gophers' NCAA roster as relay alternates.
